Make the most of the Network Forum

FFB's annual Network Forum is a valuable opportunity to learn about market developments and trends from our in-market experts and fellow exporters.

On a day close to Christmas, with a superb lunch in the offing and industry compatriots surrounding you, it’s easy and pleasant to let the morning slip away in merry banter. However, if you want to make the most of the availability of in-market experts and fellow exporters, here are some tips on how to handle the day. We’ve included advice from two delegates who make great use of the Forum: Eva Ripoll Breau at established exporter Patak’s, and Olivia Cowen at Feel Good Drinks, which only recently entered the international arena to great acclaim.

Before the event

Look forward and back
If you’ve been having difficulty in a market, or if you’re considering opportunities somewhere new, the Forum is the perfect opportunity to pick the brains of FFB’s in-market experts. Review your export strategy before the event to make sure you’re clear about where you want to go and what obstacles may be in your way.
Eva told us, “we told FFB’s offices in advance about the subjects we’d like to cover when we saw them at the Forum. That meant they were able to have information ready for us on the day, which was really helpful.”
Olivia adds, “the Network Forum has been a mine of information for us. We got a lot of tips from other suppliers about the best shows for us, about distribution issues they’ve encountered, about problems they’ve had marketing products in different companies, which has helped us plan our future activity and hopefully avoid some pitfalls!”

Talk to your people
Don’t just go armed with your own questions; tell the people you work with that you’re going and ask them if they have questions they would like you to ask. Unearthing lingering queries from within your organisation – even if it’s just “but why wouldn’t that product name have worked in that market?” - will help everyone get fully behind your work in international markets.
Eva commented, “we matched up the markets in which we operate with FFB’s offices, and then assigned someone to speak to each office, so we covered the whole FFB network.”

Do your homework
You’ll have the opportunity to indicate to FFB which markets are of interest to you. However, we will happily supply the most up-to-date information we have about delegates who will be at the event so you know who to keep an eye out for. Work out how many people you really want to speak to, and work out how long that would need.
Back to Eva: “the event was really well organised so it was easy to coordinate who should speak to whom. FFB’s staff were really helpful in making sure our networking went according to plan.”

On the day

Keep an eye on the time
The morning Network Forum session lasts from 9am until 12.30. That’s not long, when you consider that Carrefour, International Retailer of the Year, will be speaking for 45 minutes. Bear in mind the number of people you’d like to speak to and keep track of time so you don’t miss anyone out – you cannot guarantee that they’ll be staying for the post-lunch networking.

Ask for introductions
FFB staff want to make sure you’re looked after and getting the most from the day. If you’re looking for someone, or would like suggestions of useful people to speak to, ask an FFB staff member – we’ll all be wearing our badges and would be delighted to introduce you to people.
Olivia told us, “FFB staff are really happy to recommend new contacts and introduce you to them – you just have to chat with any of them and they’ll give you the lowdown on delegates who could be of use. We find the event really useful to meet other suppliers and learn from their experience. Being told that so-and-so has experience of dealing with a problem you’ve encountered, and then being able to speak to them about it is incredibly helpful.”

Make a note – and bring your cards!
Your valuable new contacts may go to waste if you don’t keep a record of the people to whom you speak. Even if you just scribble a note on a person’s card, that could be a valuable reminder when you get back to the office after a festive lunch.

Don’t just take our word for it though. The Feel Good Drinks Company and Patak’s Foods Ltd are very different companies, but both get a lot out of the Network Forum. Here’s a final word from both

Eva: “We must congratulate you for a super event and the great opportunity you gave us to make contact with counterparts throughout the world. The company was truly enjoyable and the food and drink excellent. It was a really useful day and a lot of our work in 2007 came from the Network Forum.”

Oliva: “What’s really great about the Network Forum is being able to network with people from across the world who are brought together at the event. It’s enabled us to network with people at the same level as us, doing the same things as us, and we’ve gained insights we never would have learnt had we not attended.”

The 2008 Food from Britain Export Awards and Network Forum will take place on Wednesday 10 December at the Landmark Hotel, London.

For more information about the event, or to book your place, contact David Bradbury on dbradbury@foodfrombritain.co.uk.